Were the St. Bernard dogs of the Swiss Alps the first trained rescue dogs?
I remember reading that information years ago. In truth, I don’t know the answer to this question because it doesn’t seem plausible. Perhaps, the monks in the Italian Alps, I believe it was, did train St. Bernards to locate avalanche and lost individuals, and probably it is the first recorded instance; but when you recognize just how long mankind and canines have been evolving and living together it does not seem likely that they were the first. Mankind and canines were hunting as a pack as much as 10,000 years ago. Hunting is a very complex activity requiring communication, understanding and coordinated action. It is an activity that is identical to Search and Rescue / Recovery. I find it hard to believe that someone didn’t come up with the search and rescue/recovery idea before the 16th or 17th century. What breeds of dogs excel at Human Remain Detection? All canines are scenting animals so the capability is there in varying degrees in all breeds. I’ve met many breeds of dogs from Be
I remember reading that information years ago. In truth, I don’t know the answer to this question because it doesn’t seem plausible. Perhaps, the monks in the Italian Alps, I believe it was, did train St. Bernards to locate avalanche and lost individuals, and probably it is the first recorded instance; but when you recognize just how long mankind and canines have been evolving and living together it does not seem likely that they were the first. Mankind and canines were hunting as a pack as much as 10,000 years ago. Hunting is a very complex activity requiring communication, understanding and coordinated action. It is an activity that is identical to Search and Rescue / Recovery. I find it hard to believe that someone didn’t come up with the search and rescue/recovery idea before the 16th or 17th century. What breeds of dogs excel at Human Remain Detection? All canines are scenting animals so the capability is there in varying degrees in all breeds. I’ve met many breeds of dogs from Be
